I have just bought an 2007 Aspen with 184,000 miles on it and love it. I am showing #6 & 7 MDS solenoids are open and not working. It seems to be a lot of problems with this system. Mainly frozen rollers on the lifters and then a flattened cam. I don't care about saving fuel as it is so little but is having the solenoids out of service enough to shut down the MDS system or should I get the disable kit? The Hemi is living up to it's reputation and the overall condition of a 14 year old vehicle is amazing. Thanks for any input.

 

Yes. The solenoids going out are a common problem on the Aspen. I have #6 out on mine. Replacing them are not fun either as the entire intake has to come off. I currently have the Fuel Saver (MDS) system turned off on mine with a Diablo Intune i2 programmer. Only way to get rid of the codes and stop it from trying to engage is to disable it. With it disabled, you will be able to remote start (if you have this) as well. With the code tripped, remote start won't work.

 

i got my mds turned off

 

I have spent over $1,000 over 13 years and 110,000 miles in two instances on repairs to keep the MDS working. With MDS, I can get 22MPG @ 65 MPH (2007 Aspen 5.7 w/ 3.92 rear end). Without MDS, even if the MPG dips to 17 @ 65 MPH, I could have purchased a lot of fuel for $1,000.

The last time it was worked on (I was nervous as a bad girl in church having the top disassembled) the mechanic mentioned rust under the intake. The Aspen spent most all of its years in the dry coastal desert of Southern California so weather was not the cause of the rust. I attributed this to me power washing the engine in the early years – no Bueno and no mas.

If it happens again, I’ll have the MDS shut off.

 

I've owned my 07 for 13 years. 103K. In the last year, I have had issue after issue with these solenoids. The work at a garage is time consuming and expensive. How can I turn off the MDS? I am by no means mechanically inclined. Thanks in advance.

 

DYITRY2 mentioned rust under the intake. When I first changed the MDS sensors, I noticed the same problem with my 2007 Aspen. Not only was there rust, but the foam that was under there was soaked. I figured out it was because water poured on the engine anytime it rained or I washed the vehicle. The water pours through the hole for the windshield wipers and the little push pins in that plastic cowl. I solved that problem by putting some duct tape over each of the plastic push pins and I also bend a piece of tin to fit between the underside of the cowling and the top of the intake. That tin is shaped such that any water that does make it through the cowling is directed to the sides of the engine. I've had to pull the intake a couple of times since putting that little piece of tin in place and both times, the top of the engine under the intake manifold was dry as a bone.
In regard to MDS, I've had to replace several of the MDS solenoids and learned my lesson about buying non-MOPAR. I forget what brand I bought the first time, but they lasted less than a year. Since I had replaced them, when the engine started misfiring again, I assumed it was not the MDS system, so I pulled one of the head to check the lifters. It ended up that the lifters were fine and the cam didn't appear to have any damage (from what I could see peering down the lifter holes. I put it all back together and eventually figured out it was the MDS sensors. So I replaced them with MOPAR units and its been working fine since (about two years).